Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-11 1Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20: 20-23
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire
of your love. Send for your Spirit, and we shall be created, and thou shall renew the face of the earth.
Dear Friends, we each receive gifts from the Holy Spirit to share with others - all for the greater good of all.
Today we celebrate the birthday of the Church with the descent of the Holy Spirit. We also reflect on the gifts, charisms, the Holy Spirit gives to each and every one of us. Let us pray to be able to recognize them, and ask for the grace to use them to build up the Kingdom of God here on earth.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples - and the resulting ability to speak in different tongues. In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes that while there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, there is but one Spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples in a locked room, and gives them the holy Spirit by breathing on them - and grants them the ability to forgive sins.
The Holy Spirit - the breath of Life!
Petitions
Jerry Rousseau - Leukemia; Madeleine - prayers of support and peace.
Fr. Mario Lopez - our new Pastor, that he remain healthy and safe, and join us as soon as it is safe for him to do so.
Thanksgiving - June Tyler is celebrating her 40th year as a lector and minister of the Word. Thank you June for sharing your gift of the Holy Spirit.
For an end of the coronavirus, and recover for all those ill with the virus, and their families and loved ones.
Marriage Bans - Ada Thomas and Parker Bradshaw, August 1.
Marriage Bans - Sarah Zaremba and Jeff Crosbie, October 10.
St. Vincent DePaul Ministry - Return to face-to-face interactions soon.
All health care professionals - health and safety at work.
All those infected with the coronavirus - complete recovery.
For an end to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
For all the college graduates - prayers for their future endeavors.
For peace in the major cities throughout the US in response to George Floyd’s death, an end to rioting and violence.
For all police and the communities they serve - Lord give them the wisdom and grace to work effectively together.
Lamar Buckner, continued prayer for recovery, healing, peace.
For our visiting priests who have faithfully supported us: Fr. Vin Sullivan, Fr. Jim Oberle, Msr. Jim Schillinger, Fr. Richard Wise, Fr. G. Schroff - prayers of gratitude and grace.
For all those mourning loved ones lost.
For all essential workers, especially in meat packing plants and hotels.
For an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon prisoners, refugees, and exiles.
For all those on our parish prayer list.
And all those petitions we hold in the silence in our hearts.
Thank you Lord for hearing all our petitions. Please answer them according to your will and our need, through Christ our Lord, amen.
Parish Update
Congratulations to our 2020 College Graduates:
Katie Anderson, UNC
Regina Cothren, UGA
Jennifer Chinicci, Augusta University
Addy Murphy, Georgia Tech
May God bless you abundantly, and guide you confidently in all your future endeavors!
Tinted Windows - The sanctuary has a different look this weekend. In order to improve our streaming productions, we tinted the five windows behind the altar to cut the glare and 95% of the heat. After the tinting installation we needed to leave the white window grid off for 72 hours. Many have suggested leaving them off.
We decided to let the community see for yourselves.
What do you think?
The window grid is safely placed nearby.
We are streaming daily Masses now, too.
Thank You - To all those who volunteered to help us with the opening of the Church and keeping us safe and those who are helping to wipe down the pews and touchable surfaces, and rest rooms after each Mass.
Special appreciation to our Ushers who have prepared for two weeks to guide us in opening, and keeping us safe.
Masks must be worn throughout the liturgy.
As we gather together please listen and follow the guidance of our ushers. We enter the sanctuary by the middle aisles, and exit the side aisles.
Communion will be distributed on the hands only.
Two Holy Communion stations. The Priest in the front, and the deacon in the rear. The front half of the pews receive from the priest, and the back half from the deacon. The ushers will guide you by the middle aisle to receive, and return by the side aisles. This way the lines will not interfere with safe spacing.
We will dismiss with front rows exiting the side door near Our Lady of Guadeloupe, and the rear half through the rear doors by the restrooms.
Restroom use one person at a time. Collection baskets will be by the doors. Thanks you for your offerings.
Thanks for your patience and participation.
Fr. Jim Oberle will be with us this week saying Masses and hearing confessions.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 AM.
Fr. Vin Sullivan will say Mass on Wednesday at 9 AM - This Mass is in honor of our deceased Knights of Columbus.
Saturday June 6 - volunteers are assembling to clean out and organize the garage at the ‘Old Rectory‘ to make way for storage.
The Knights of Columbus is sponsoring another Blood Drive August 8th. We collected 34 pints in our drive last month. Thank you for your donations.
Colleen Orchanian - is assembling a ‘think tank’ to explore the possibility of hosting some form of a festival this year. This decision is a community decision and your voice matters. Feel free to give us your input. The group will also be discussing the economic impact upon our community and ideas for alternate fundraising possibilities.
Weekend Masses through August 30 will be covered by Fr. Jim Oberle, Msr. Jim Schillinger, and Bishop Ned Shlessinger.
Thanks again to Fr. Vin and Fr. Jim for giving us weekday Masses these first two weeks back. God bless you.
You are up to date.
+God bless,
DJP